'Embezzlement of Minority Scholarship Funds'

Sajad Lone assures probe

Jammu, Feb 09 (KNS): Minister for Social Welfare Sajad Gani Lone today assured the Legislative Assembly that the government will thoroughly probe alleged embezzlement in the disbursement of scholarships released by Union Ministry of Minority.
Minister was responding to a calling attention notice of GM Saroori regarding alleged embezzlement in the release of scholarship funds.
“Though the funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries but if the embezzlement as alleged by the Legislator, is proved, the government will conduct inquiry and also request Minister for Minority Affairs to apprise the state whether any scholarship amount meant for the minority community has been transferred to any other institution,” Lone said.
He said as per Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, GoI, the applicants apply directly on National Scholarship Portal (NSP2.0) of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, GOI, and the applications are thereafter scrutinized online by the Institute concerned and later by District/State level Nodal Officer and are then transferred directly to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, GOI (online) for consideration or selection and grant of Scholarship to the eligible candidates through DBT/PFMS mode. He said scholarship amount is then credited directly into the bank accounts of the selected applicants by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Lone said the entire process is online and as such there is no scope for transfer of Minority scholarship to the Pvt. Institutes at the State level. However, Ministry of Minority Affairs, GOI shall be requested to apprise the State whether any scholarship amount, meant for the minority community has been directly released in favour of the Institute mentioned by the legislator.
The minister further informed the house that under Merit-Cum Means based scholarship provided by the unions Ministry of Minority, the scholarship is granted to the students undergoing various Professional/Technical Degree courses within India, having secured 50% or above marks in the qualifying examination and previous class and whose parents/guardians annual income does not exceed Rs.2.50 lakh .
He said under Post-Matric Minority scholarship, the scholarship is granted to the students undergoing various Academic/technical & Vocational Courses within India having secured 50% or above marks in the previous class & whose parents/guardians annual income does not exceed Rs.2.00 lacs are under the Scheme.
Under Pre-Matric Minority scholarship, the students undergoing studies from class 1st to 10th within India having secured 50% or above marks in the previous class & whose parents/guardians annual income does not exceed Rs.1.00 lacs are granted Scholarship under the Scheme, he informed. (KNS)